#CanadaGem: Libraries to get lost in all across the country

Stacks on stacks of beautiful book-lending buildings.

Brittany Toole · CBC Life · June 24

(Credit: Instagram/@explorecanada)

We here at CBC Life are just as excited as you about Canada's 150th birthday. So in the month leading up to July 1, we're showcasing some of our country's amazing hidden gems from coast to coast: totally Instagram-worthy food, tiles too pretty to *not* shoot, crazy views and more. #CanadaGem#CBClife

From coast to coast, this beautiful country of ours offers some stunning scenery – but, it turns out, our libraries are gorgeous too!

Historic and modern, some of these Canadian libraries are just as beautiful as the books in them. These quiet spaces house some of the country's biggest collections and rarest volumes. Some serve as backdrops for Vogue photo shoots. So if you're looking for a rare book, or perhaps some solitude, these buildings will let you get lost in a good book.

(Image: Vogue, photo by Jonathan Becker)

A great stopping place on any road trip this summer, libraries offer a great insight into the community they serve. Whether you're stopping in to curl up with a new novel, attend an event, or just marvel at the architecture, we've compiled a list of libraries you need to visit – just remember to keep quiet.

Behold, libraries across this great nation that are sure to turn anyone into a bibliophile!